Biography
WHERE IT ALL STARTED
1986 – Ian had his first taste of recording work when he was just 6 years old at lower school, they had written some songs with the help of their music teacher and the school decided to record them at a studio. Ian remembers it like it was yesterday, and still has the tape and the photos of the day. They are things that he treasures, but most of all this was the start of his passion for performing which he still has and always will.
1990 – 1996 – After this Ian continued to study music right through middle and upper school and into college taking part in many different productions along the way including Joseph, The King and I, Blood Brothers to mention a few.
When Ian left school he took on vocal studies at Harpur Music School, alongside this he had a private vocal coach in London. This gave him the confidence and technical knowledge he needed and taught Ian a lot about performance & stage work.
Before, during and after his studies he received great encouragement from a great friend, Nat. She was already a singer and was working the local club circuit, he spent many a night with her at the weekends helping at her gigs, watching and learning, getting up and singing the occasional number.
After this he paired up with another friend and formed a duo called "ViViD". They wrote and performed their own songs as well as some covers, did a few local gigs and took part in a local competition. They had a lot of fun and enjoyed it very much, but ended up going their own separate ways about a year later.
1999 – After things settled down a bit Ian was then ready to go it alone and work as a solo performer.
He was at a local charity event in Bedford for cancer research with Nat, her agent was there that night, she listened to them sing a song together on stage and before long had exchanged numbers and was on her books working as a solo act. After 6 months of solo work Ian signed a management contract with the same agent Pulse and worked as a managed act, which got him some good reviews in the stage newspaper and some good write ups at the Showcall Showcase 1999.
A bit later down the line Ian felt the need to try new things and auditioned for another company called "Troupers" who landed him his first cruise contract with Maritime Leisure onboard the TSS Topaz as a production vocalist. This was a whole new experience, taking part in production shows and learning so many new things. When Ian finished that contract and came back to the UK he was then working constantly for 5 different agents all over the country, but at that point still had a travel bug after working on the ship and felt the need to explore different avenues and try new things.
2001 – This was when he went into a recording studio "Lost Boys Studio" and recorded a few tracks and used them as a demo, which was sent along with promo material to about every agent & production company in the UK. But the exercise paid off and Ian got asked to go and work abroad for "Main Feature Productions" in Ibiza. The show was a Steps Tribute show, touring hotels in Ibiza, again another new challenge, and full scale dance & vocal show.
Ibiza was an amazing experience Ian made so many new friends as well as having the time of his life, and ended up doing 2 seasons there and still to this day misses the life and all of the people he worked with.
After Ibiza Ian worked with 2 of his friends Clare and Neil and created a group called INC, they put together a show with dance and vocal and took part in Showcall with a really good review that followed. They got offered a management contract with a company that didn't work out and they ended up all going their separate ways.
2002 – Ian moved to Mallorca to a place called Alcudia, a big holiday resort with his partner at the time and went back to his roots of solo work a refreshing change after a few years of group work. He worked in several big hotels and cabaret venues for the summer season of 2002.
When the season come to a close he decided to go somewhere with a winter season and headed for Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria was totally different to working in the rest of Spain. Getting work over there proved to be very difficult as a solo, it took three months of trying to get a spot at one of the main cabaret venues in Puerto Rico, it seemed they needed shows that bought people in and at that time Pop Idol was the craze that people were into, so it became his show, a tribute to pop idol. Cheesy but it was work.
2003 – Ian returned to the UK, but returned with a plan that would keep him busy for some time. Ian had been working on the idea for a new show that we wanted to produce called Latin Fever. He produced the show with his friend Clare and had a lot of great and very big agents on side, they performed at some fantastic venues including Brighton Pier, and various corporate events but as with most production shows, costs outweigh profit and had to end it before anymore money was lost. So they decided to carry on working together as a duo and called Zest.
Zest kicked off really well and they were doing gigs every weekend but it was never going to last forever. Ian decided he needed a break from performing for a while and Clare wanted to get back into dance. So he took a break from performing for a year which brings us up to December 2004.
2005 – Ian re–established himself as a solo performer and gained a constant stream of work, he recorded a new album in November 2005 which became really popular, in total Ian sold over a thousand copies.
2006 – Was a fantastic year as well, Ian moved on, still working for the same agents but with a few additional ones booking different venues.
He started work on the production of his CD in association with ICM Productions and Black Panther Records and completed recording and production at the end of September 2006. The Album "Its About Time" also became very popular with a mix of classic songs from many different era's but with a new style for Swing & Jazz developing.
2007 – Another year, Another Album "Everything" but this one with a difference a complete change into the Jazz/Swing Style.
He started working on the holiday park circuit along the south and east coast, as well as performing at hotels, casinos and guest cruise ship perfomances with his focus primarily on performing and recording now.
Ian is launching a new show along with his current show that is pure Swing/Jazz standards, which is proving to generate a lot of interest. The first performances of this show will be in September.
Ian is always keen to hear what people think of his music, and if you have seen him perform, or listened to the demo's on the site is always keen to get feedback. You can email him ian@ianmarch.co.uk or post him a message on myspace.
Thank Yous:
There are so many people that I have worked with and for over the years, each and everyone of them has had an impact on my life in some way or another, you all know who you are and I thank you all very much for your help, advice and support over my 10 years of performing.
My Family:
Dad, Ingrid, Mark, Gary & Sarah – Although I know in many ways I haven't been the perfect Son & Brother you have always supported me through the good times and the bad and I love you all.
My Friends:
Nat – My friend and my inspiration, you gave me a lot of the confidence to do what I do, without you I don't think I would ever be writing this now. You are a true friend and always will be.
Clare – One of my best friends in the world. You are always honest with me quite brutally sometimes, we will always be there for each other. Miss you greatly,(and the drunken nights out in Brum) and I'm really looking forward to working with you more on the swing show.
My Agents:
Stacy/Yvonne – MK Promotions
One of my favourite agents, you listen to all of my moans and groans, give me loads of excellent work and always lend a sympathetic ear. You are great and I thank you so much for all your help and support over the last few years. Thanks for being honest and always making me laugh.
Yvonne – BuzzBubblegum
My cockney sounding agent, gets me loads of work and makes me loads of money, always has something funny to say. Thanks for all the great work over the years!
Carole – Pulse
My old manager & my old mate – less of the old I here you say. Good luck with the re–launch, we were never made to be poor! I hope to be doing a lot of work for you in the future!
Terry – Dings Entertainments
Always on hand to book me into some fantastic venues – what can I say, thank you for the summer I have enjoyed myself so much and am really looking forward to an ongoing relationship.
Brian – Central Entertainments
You have been a star this year and have given me so much work, thank you so much. And thanks for your patience with me as well I know I'm a nightmare sometimes.
Liz – Crystal Entertainments, Bill – B&Z Entertainments, The Team @ Crescendo, Big Beat Entertainments, Create Entertainments, Swan Entertainments, John Howe Presentations, NVS Entertainments, Gemini Promotions.
My Production Teams:
My Designers @ Black Bear & Funkiest Media
James @ Jamtrash – My ace photographer
My Sound & Recording Guys @ The Lodge & Lost Boys
All the team at ICM & Black Panther
